Cleaning textile and similar materials



y 1939- J w. CHAMBERLIN El AL 2,165,834

CLEANING TEXTILE AND SIMILAR MATERIALS Filed March 6, 1937 11Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS.

July 11, 1939. V J. w. CHAMBERLIN ET AL CLEANING TEXTILE AND SIMILARMATERIALS Filed March 6, 1937 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TORS (/MMBEEUI/JOHN W.

W. 6 7 m m m aifi A A M E V m Y y 1939- J. w. cHAM'BERuN ET AL 2,165,884

CLEANING TEXTILE AND SIMILAR MATERIALS Filed March 6, 1937 11Sheets-Sheet 3 .HI I l'' JNVENTOK'S. JOHN w. Ll-IHMBEEl/H 25x 42;aesizrzt/n A TTORNEY y 1939- J. w. CHAMBERLIN ET AL 2,155,384

CLEANING TEXTILE AND SIMILAR MATERIALS Filed Maqch 6, 1937 l1Sheets-Sheet 4 I N V EN TOR$ 76 I 7 JOHN w. C/IHMBEQL/H AT RNEYS. I,

July 11, 1939.

Filed March 6, 1937 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 July 11, 1939. J. vy. CHAMBERLINET AL CLEANING TEXTILE AND SIMILAR HATERIAIJS Filed March 6, 1937 llSheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOM. C/fflMEtQUN QEX 401. 54135 1,,-

*L A ORNEYS.

y 1939- J. w. CHAMBERLIN ET AL 2,165,884

CLEANING TEXTILE AND SIMILAR MATERIALS Filed March 6, 1937 llSheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR. JOHN W. CHHMBEQL/fi BY 25)! 401- BHASETKJK' /7Zm A ORNEYS.

y 1939- J. w. CHAMBERLIN ET AL 2,165,884

CLEANING 'IL'EX'TEILE AND S IMILAR MATERIALS Fil ed March 6, 19s? fig is11 Shets-Sheet 9 July 11,1939. .1. w. CHAMBERLIN ET AL CLEANiNG TEXTILEAND SIMILAR MATERIAL S Filed March 6, 1937 ll Sheets-Sheet 10 IN V ENTORS JOHN W. CHflMBED/JH gsx mp1 anxrrr, Jr:

MW$ M v TTORNEYS.

J. W. CHAMBERLIN ET AL CLEANING TEXTILE AND SIMILAR MATERIALS 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed March 6, 1937 i TTORNEYS.

Patented July 11,1939

PATENT oF ica CLEANING Tex-rum:

- MATERIALS John W. Chamberlin and Rex Earl Bassett, Jr.,

AND SIMILAR rare 2 ssum South Bend, Ind., assignors to Bendix HomeAppliances, Inc., Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware ApplicationMarch s, 1931, Serial No. 129,429

19 Claims,

This invention relates to the washing and cleaning of clothes andsimilar materials, and is described below in connection with a washingand rinsng and drying machine operatingautomatically according to adefinite cycle,

Horizontal rotary washers have many advantages, but heretofore'they havebeen driven at relatively low speeds, and even then the clothes tangleto such an extent that it is necessary to reverse the direction of driveevery few revolutions to permit the clothes to disentangle themselvesagain, This adds greatly to the time required for washing, and to thecost of building the machines.

An important feature of the present invention is based on the discoverythat. while these washers must be periodically reversed when driven atlow speeds, and while the efiiciency is very low at high speeds, thereis a narrow range of intermediate speeds at which the washer operates athigh emciency while driven continuously in the same direction. This alsopermits the building of 'a lighter and less expensive, as well as moreeflicient machine, as the considerable weight needed in prior machinesis mainly on account of the large inertia forces set up in periodicallyreversing a heavy drum full of wet clothes.

This critical range of speeds is such that the clothes are carried bythe drum up out of the wash water, and are then thrown clear of the drumto fall across the drum back into the wash water, while at the same timecurrents are set' up in the wash water which also act on the clothes.bringing about a washing action of the 5 water through the fabrics in anentirely new and extremely effective manner which also has the advantageof minimizing .wear due to scrubbing action on the clothes. The mannerof determining this speed, and various considerations relating to thedepth of the wash water and to the clearance about the drum to permitthe back currents necessary to give maximumefiectiveoess, is explainedbelow'in detail, as well'as our own explanation of theattendingphenomena.

h gher range of speeds, at which, after the wash water is drained off,the clothes graduallyv distribute themselves uniformly about the drumready for high-speed centrifugal -drying or e x traction. -A veryimportant consideration, which greatly facilitates designing a cyclicautomatic machine for washing and drying the clothes without removingthe'm'from the drum, is that these;

two speed ranges'overlap, so that there is a ve y narrow range ofspeedsat which clothes will tumble in washing? as described, withouttangling, so long as there is sufiicient water in the machine, and whenthe water is withdrawn (but at approximately the same driving speed) theclothes will distributethemselves over the periphery of the drum withouttumbling", ready for high speed extraction. We are therefore able tocontrol the action of the clothes, in "tumbling duringwashing andthereafter in distribution ready for high-speed centrifugal drying, bycontrolling the water in the' machine without any change in either thedirection or speed of rotation of the clothes drum. This enables us toembody our invention in a very much simplified machine having atwo-speed single-direction drive. Based on the above-described novelmethod of operation made possible by our discoveries, we have designedan improved type of washing and cleaning machine having many novelfeatures of construction and arrangement. and. operation of, parts,which will be apparent from thefollowing description of the illustrativemachine shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the top and front and one side ofthe machine;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the machine from the front, with theouter casing removed; Figure 3 is a perspective view of an electricheater element;

Figure 4 is a perspective) view of the machine from the rear, with theouter casing removed;

Figure 5 is a perspective view, from the front, of the base of themachine and the shaft-supporting brackets carried thereby; v

Figure 6 is a partial verticalv section through the. soap-door; I

Figure 7 is a partial vertical section through the upper part of theclothes door;

Figure 8 is a vertical section through the ma 4 chine in a plane passingthrough the axis of the tub and drum;

'Figures 9 and 10 are vertical sections, at right angles to each other,through'one form of multiple control switch which may be used; We havealso discovered that there is a slightly Figures 11, 12, and 13 aresectional views showing one form, and Flgures 14 and 15 are sectiona1views, of an alternative form, of two-speed transmission, either ofwhich may be used;

Figures 16 and 1'7 show an alternative arrange- "ment for'supplyingwater;

Figure 18 is a wiring diagram of the machine}; 5

Figure 19 is an operating diagram thereof;

Figure 20 is a wiring diagram of a modification o1 .the machine in whichcontrols are provided for hot and coldwater lines, instead of supplyingrather poor on heavy loads.

water from a single source at a predetermined desired temperature as inFigure 18;

' Figure 21 is an operating diagram to accompany Figure 20;

Figures 22, 23, and 24 are diagrammatic sections showing the action ofthe clothes in the drum at different speeds; and

Figure 25 is a diagram showing the washing action of the machine,

The illustrated machine comprises a casing consisting of suitable topand front and side panelslll and I2 and I4, removably mounted in anydesired manner on a base l6. various combinations of these panels may bemade integral with each other, as for example the top panel In. and oneor more of the side panels l4.

As one convenient and rigid mounting for the tub and rotor partsdescribed below, there may be secured to the rear of the base IS atriangular bracket l8 having its peripheral portion of channel sectionto provide stiffness and strength, and

provided with a central plate portion or web 20, and which carries ashaft bearing 22 at its apex. The base 15 also has secured to itsforward portion one end of asecond bracket 24 yvhich has an inclinedportion 26 leading to and through, and if desired rigidly secured to,the plate 20 and which then extends upwardly at 28 to support a secondshaft bearing 30 spaced rearwardly from and alined with the bearing 22.A vertical third bracket 32 is shown mounted at the front of the base.

A cylindrical horizontal metal tub 34, covered with suitable heat andsound insulating material, is rigidly mounted between the brackets 18and 32. generally cylindrical drum or clothes container 38, formed withseveral baflies or-inwardly-projecting ribs 40. The head of the drum 38is radially ribbed or otherwise formed to stiffen it, and is secured toa head or spider formed or keyed or otherwise secured on one endof ashaft 42 journaled in the bearings 22 and 30. A U- section stamping 43may be welded to the upper ends of the two shaft-supporting brackets, totie them together and to hold the bearings 22 and 30.

The number of. baffles has considerable effect on the manner in whichthe machine operates. For example, the efficiency of five baflles is.high on low loads, average on medium loads, and The efficiency of threebafiles is near the average on all loads. The efficiency of four bafilesis not high on low loads, but is above average on medium loads and ishigh on heavy loads. For a domestic machine, four bafiles is thepreferred number, because the machine is seldom operated with smallloads, one pair of opposite baflies being somewhat higher than the otherpair.

Between the bearings 22 and 30 the shaft 42 is provided. with a pulley44 for a V-belt 46. passing over an idler pulley 48 adjustably mountedin-a slot 50 in the plate portion 28 of the first bracket, and over adrive pulley 52 on the driven shaft of a two-speed transmission 54rigidly con nected to and driven by a main motor 56.

The tub 34 has pivoted thereto a clothes door 58 having a latch 63, andwhich swings either down to a horizontal or vertical position when open,as shown in Figure 2. If means is provided forholding the .door in ahorizontalposition, it

formsa convenient support in front of the opening. The door preferablyhas its central portion If desired,

Within the tub 34 is a rotatable perforated made of glass, so that thewashing action may readily be observed. According to one feature of ourinvention, adjacent and preferably above the door 58 there is mounted asoap door 62, through which soap powder or other detergent can beintroduced while the machine is running and full of wash water, therebypermitting the operator to observe the formation of suds through theglazed door 58 and accurately control the amount of soap added.

The door 62 shown in the drawings is mounted on a bowed stamping 63mounted on a pivot 65 inside the machine, so that it closes flush withthe casing, and a bowed spring 6'! acts on it in tension with a toggleaction to hold it shut or open, according to whether the ends of thespring are in a line on one side or the other of the hinge 65. The doorcloses against a frame in the form of an annular stamping ll secured tothe tub 34 about the soap door opening therein. The stamping 63 isprovided with wings 69, and is so shaped as to form a receptacle forsoap powder when the door is horizontal, and to dump the soap powderinto the machine when the door is swung shut to its vertical position.The arrangement just described is covered by our divisional applicationNo. 231,653, filed September 26, 1938.

Water, at the desired temperature, is introduced into the tub 34 througha hose connection 64, under the control of a valve 66 operated by asolenoid or the like 68, being injected into the tub through a nozzle 69projecting through the frame 10 of the door 58.

As hereinafter more fully explained, the water level in the tub isdetermined by including in the circuit of the solenoid 68 a switch '12,the

one illustrated being a double-acting switch operated to open and closetwo circuits, as hereinafter described, at predetermined high and lowwater levels, by spaced stops on a rod 14 carried by a float 16 in afloat chamber 18 communieating with the interior of the tube 34.

The water is preferably injected at a temperature (e. g. 110 F.)suitable for washing woolens and the like. Instead of putting in hotterwater in the first place when cotton materials are to be washed, we mayinject the water at the lower (110) temperature, and then heat it toraise the temperature (e. g. to around 160 F.) during the washing of theclothes. For example, an immersion heater, or an electric resistanceheater, shown as a ring 19 surrounding the drain collar 8! at the bottomof the tub, may be provided. Preferably this heater is controlled by aswitch 83 on the front panel 12. To inject the water at thispredetermined temperature, the inlet line 64 may be connected to theoutlet of a hot and cold water mixing device, which may if desired beconstructed and arranged substantially as described in application No.72,312, filed April 2, 1936, by Rex Earl Basset, Jr. This arrangementfor raising the temperature of the suds during the washing operation isclaimed in our division application No. 241,614 filed November 21, 1938.

The housing 18 of the float mechanism may be utilized as a breather, tomaintain constant atmospheric pressure in the tub 34 even when scaledter splashing out through the conduit. This breather arrangement is morefully described and The cleaning liquid used in the machine, for

ordinary domestic washing, may be warm or hot water with a'detergentsuch as a soap compound containing 72% pure soap, and 28% alkali and thelike. This compound, while of greatest effectiveness with water having ahardness of 5.25 grains per U. S. gallon, is reasonably satisfactoryeven with absolutely soft water, where theoretically pure' soap shouldbe used, and is cheaper than pure soap.

We find it desirable to adjust the amount of soap accurately to eachload, by feeding the soap compound (as previously explained) into thema-' chine gradually through the soap door 62 while watching theformation of the suds through the door 58. 'Since the amount of soilvaries in different loads and with different types of water, the amountof soap compound must be varied to correspond.

Woolen fabrics, and certain types of colored fabrics, are best washed atapproximately 110 F., while for white and fast-color cotton fabrics theoptimum temperature is 160 F. However, if cotton materials are placed inwater at 110 F.,

and the temperature is increased gradually to.

160 F., as explained above, the washing efficiency is some 18% higherthan at a constant temperature of 160 E., and for this reason aspreviousy explained we prefer to supply the water at 110 F. and heat it(when cotton materials are being washed) to the 160 F. range oftemperatures during the washing operation.

The drain collar 8| communicates, through :a baflle 90 which directsthe-water through a screen or strainer 92, with a sump 94 drainedby asuitable drain conduit 95 controlled by a drain valve 96 operated by. asolenoid 98. A removable cover I00 permits access to the screen 92 forcleaning purposes.

While the machine has been described as rotatable about a horizontalaxis, some variation is feasible, and the axis may be somewhat inclined,although the efficiency becomes very poor when the inclination isgreater than The two speeds desired for the drum may be secured by meansof the two-speed motor,

for example of the type described in application No. 127,191, filedFebruary 23, 1937, by Rex Earl v Bassett, or by means of a two-speedtransmission. Two such transmissions are illustrated in Figures 11-13and inFigures 14-15.

The transmission 54 in the form of 11-13 is assembled in combinationwith the motor 56. This motor is illustrated as a split-phase inductionmotor having a stator I I8 with a winding H2, and an armature II4provided with afan I16 and keyed on an armature shaft, Ill. The

position. The end of the armature shaft II8 has a drive pinion I24formed thereon, and has keyed thereto a cone clutch member I26 whichisheld by the bearing I22 against movement to the left. A ring gear I28coaxial with respect to the shaft I I8 has its ends formed with coneclutch surfaces,

. one of which cooperates with the clutch member,

I26, and the other of which cooperates with a conical clutch, surface ona planet carrier I30 provided with pivot pins I32 for planet gears I34driven by the pinion I24 and meshing with the teeth of the ring gearI28.

The planet carrier I30 is keyed to a driven shaft I36, shown as recessedto carry a pilot bearing I38 for the reduced end of the shaft H8, andwhich is formed with a drive pinion I40 meshing with and drivinga drivengear I42 on a shaft I44 which projects exteriorly of the casing I20, andcarries the drive pulley of the previously-described belt drive for thedrum.

The partsI26-I28-I30 are held clutch together to rotate as a unit, athigh speed,'by the axial thrust of the shaft I36 due to pressure througha ball I46 from a plunger I48 having its conical end forming theequivalent of a knifeedge fulcrum engaged by a recess in a lever I50having a second recess fulcrumed on a knifeedge on a part I52 boltedtothe transmission casing. The lever I50 is. operated yieldingly bymeans such as a spring I54 engaged by a yoke I56 pivoted to the core I58of a solenoid I60. The solenoid is shown mounted on top of thetransmission casing.

Rotation of parts I26-I 28-I30 as a unit, when clutched together by theenergization of the solenoid I60, is permitted by a suitable one -wayclutch, shown as includmg spring-pressed clutch rollers I62 in wedgerecesses in a clutch ring I64 encircling the ringgear-I28 andnon-rotatably connected to the transmission casing by means such as abolt I66.

When the solenoid I is de-energized, the parts I24 drives the planetgears I34 on the ring gear I28, which is held against rotation backwardby the one-way clutch I62I 66, to rotate the planet carrier I38 and theshaft I36 at low speed.

In the alternative transmission of Figures 14 and 15, the motor armatureshaft-H8 drives a pinion I10 shown pinned to the shaft. The pinion I10,in low speed, drives a gear I12 loose on a countershaft I14. The gearI12 has in its side a mck'et receiving the laterally-bent end of afriction coil spring I16 wound on the periphery of a clutch disk I18,and in low speed the gear I12 winds the spring I15 in a direction totighten its coils upon the clutch disk I18;

I12 to drive the shaft I14. The shaft-I14 has keyed thereon a pinion I82driving a gear I84 on a shaft I44, corresponding to shaft I44 of thefirst-described transmission, and which has secured thereto the drivepulley of the belt drive for the drum.

Adjacent the gear I84 the shaft I44 has sleeved thereon the extended hubof the drive pinion I10,

which hub is formed with a screw thread I86 onwhich is mounted a diskI88 about the periphery of which is wound a coil friction spring I89having its end turned outwardly to engage and be held by a plunger I81;attached to the core I56 of a solenoid I60 which is energized when highspeed is desired.

The-spring I89, when so held against rotation,

tends to unwind, but still has sufficient frictional drag on the diskI88 to cause the latter to I26I28I30 are de-clutched, whereupon pinionshift axially on the thread I86, to force toward the-left a gear I90loosely mounted on the hub of the pinion I10. The gear I90 has itsopposite side recessed to receive a small multiple-disk clutch I92,alternate plates of which are keyed to the gear I90 and to the hub ofthe pinion I-10. This clutches the gear I90 to the pinion I10.

The gear I90 drives (at higher speed) a gear I94 keyed on the shaft I14, and causes that shaft to rotate faster. This causes the thread I80to I turn in the disk I18 in a direction to back that disk off from gearI12. Since this tends to unwind the spring I16, it merely turns with alight frictional drag on the disk I18, since the disk I18 and the gearI12 are now unclutched and the disk is turning (with the shaft I14)faster than the gear.

The above-described transmission of Figures 14 and 15 is claimed per sein application No. 120,700, filed January 15, 1937, by Thomas B. Martin,since, while we may use it in the novel combinations embodied in ourmachine, the structure per se of this transmission is not of ourinvention.

For controlling the-cycle of operations, we may use the multiple cyclicswitch described, and claimed per se, in application No. 78,635, filedMay 8, 1936, by Rex Earl Bassett. Another cyclic switch which may beused is shown in Figures 9 and 10 of the attached drawings, and issubstantially the same as that claimed in application No. 240,163, filedNovember 12, 1938, by Rex Earl Bassett, Jr. This switch includes aseparable two-part housing 200, 202 carried by a bracket 204 providedwith a spring catch or retainer 206 and which is mounted on the frontpanel I2. A cable 208 is made up of the various electric connectionsfrom the valve solenoids, the motor, etc., and each of these connectionsis secured to one of a plurality of sockets 2I0 carried by an insulatorplate 2I2 forming the rear face of the housing part 200.

The housing part 202 has mounted therein an electric motor 2I4 connectedin parallel with the motor 56 (see Figures 18 and 20 and which is aself-starting motor of some kind, preferably a synchronous motor or thelike. This motor 2I4 drives a suitable reduction gearing 2I6 (not shownin detail) which in turn drives a shaft 2I8 at a speed, for example, ofone revolution per minute. If preferred, the shaft 2I8 may be connected,for example by a flexible shaft, directly to the main motor 56.

The shaft 2I 8 is shown as provided with a earn 220 (note Figure 10)which once each revolution gradually lifts and then suddenly drops apivoted lever 222 having a cam roller 224 riding on I the periphery ofthe cam 220. Each downward movement of the lever 222 causes a pawl 226pivoted thereto to advance by one tooth a ratchet 228, a holding pawl230 preventing retrograde movement of the ratchet. A spring 232tensioned between the pawls 226 and 230 holds both pawls against theratchet 228, and also serves to urge the lever 222 downwardly toward thecam 220.

An'insulator plate 234 forming the front end of the casing section 202is connected to a partition 236 by insulated tie rods 238 which extendrearwardly to support the drive unit consisting of the motor 2I4 and thereduction gear 2 I6. The partition 236 carries a bushing 240 whichserves as a bearing for the shaft 2), and also for the reduced rear endof a main timer camshaft 242 on which the ratchet 228 is mounted.

The shaft 242 is also journaled in the front plate 234, and extendsforwardly through the casing section 200 andthrough the front panel 12,and has detachably mounted thereon a suitable indicator handle 244moving over a scale may be used for the clothes door 58.

'tral position with the parts in line.

246 (Figure 1) which is graduated to indicate the cycle of the machine.handle 244, the casing section 202 with the mechanism inclosed therein,and including the shaft 242, can be removed bodily for adjustment orrepair, without disturbing the connections 208'.

The shaft 242- has fixed .thereon a series .of Bakelite cams'250, shownmounted in a unit on a sleeve 252 which is pressed onto the shaft, to'

raise and lower the outer contacts of a series I, 2, 3, 4, (or Ia, 2a,3a, 4a, 5a in Figure 20) "of spring contacts mounted on the face plate234, and forming a series of control switches. The contactsare connected.to plugs 256 adaptedto be detachably inserted in the sockets 2I0, forthe double purpose of connecting the casing sections 200 and 202 andelectrically connecting the leads 208 with the switches I, 2, 3, 4, etc.

'It will benoted from the wiring diagrams in Figures 18 and 20 thatswitch I controls both motors 56 and 2I4, switch 2 the high-speed clutchsolenoid I60, switch 3 the drain valvesolenoid 98 and switch 4 the inletvalve 68, or 68a in' the alternative arrangement of Figure 20.

By turning the indicator handle 244 forward (which is permitted by theratchet 228, which can turn forward but not backward) the switch I isclosed, and this switch remains closed, to cause the two motors tooperate, until the end of the cycle. Also, the indicator handle 244 maywhen desired be turned forward over part of the Wash" period, to shortenit by that much when the full period will not be required. From thereon, the control switch causes the machine to operate automatically forthe remainder of the cycle.

Figures 16 and 1'1 illustrate an alternative arrangement, in which noheater is used, and hot and cold water are mixed in the machine, andwhich may be used with the wiring of Figure 20 and the cycle of Figure21. In this arrangement nected to two hose elements 264 inclosed in aheat-insulating cover 266 to form a heat-transfer means by which thecold water is partially heated before reaching the machine. The hotwater hose connects to the inlet hose 64 directly through a valve 66aoperated by a solenoid 68a operatively controlled by the switch 4a. Thecold water is controlled by a second valve operated by a solenoid 68b.This solenoid 68b is connected in series with a thermostatic switch 19aand with switches 5a (cyclic) and 83 (manual) arranged in parallel.series with the switch 4a. When switch 83 is closed, the thermostaticswitch 19a controls the cold water supply regardless of the switch So,whenever the switch 411 is closed.

In order to facilitate the draining of the tub 34, a water pump 210 maybe mounted on the end of the motor 56, and driven by that motor, betweenthe tub 34 and the drain valve 96. The pump is not necessary if there isa gravity drain, but is essential when the water has to be lifted agaist gravity into a set-tub or the like.

Figure '7 illustrates one form of latch which In this arrangement thelatch handle 60 is pivoted at the top of the door, coaxially with aseparate latch member 212 connected to the handle by a lostmotionpin-and-slot connection 214. The latch member 212 forms a toggle with acompression spring 216 which holds the latch member 212 either closed oropen until manipulation of the handle 60 moves the toggle to and pastits cen The latch By removing the The switch 83 is in.

40 the hot and cold water pipes 260 and 262 are con-- member 212 ispreferably formed with a U-shaped recess for the stationary hook-shapedretainer 218, so that when the door is slammed shut the impact of thelatch member 212 itself will cause shifting of the toggle past center toa position where spring 216 holds the door tightly shut.

. A clothes receptacle or drum 38 having a volume of approximately 3600cubic inches is required for efficiently washing a quantity of textilesweighing nine pounds when dry, with a proper quantity of water;however,-the machine will operate reasonably satisfactorily if the loaddoes not exceed six pounds per cubic foot of cylinder capacity. Oneaxial end of the receptacle or drum is preferably left open, aspreviously described, for the insertion and removal of the textiles, theshaft upon which the receptacle rotates being located at the other end.,The preferred dimensions for a cylinder of this capacity are a diameterof twenty inches and a length of twelve inches. These dimensions give avolume of approximately 3769.92 cubic inches, and the theoreticaloptimum load is 9.5 pounds dry weight oftextiles, as hereinafter morefully explained.

Bailles may be provided if desired, on the vertical back and front wallsof the drum or onother surfaces contacted by the textiles, as well asthe bailies 40 projecting inwardly from the periphery. At any rate someirregularity of the periphery of the cylinder is highly essential. Novery great difierence exists between baffies having cross-sectionalangles from to 60, in the particular machine herein illustrated. Whenthe angle is increased beyond 60, however, efficiency drops rapidlyuntil almost zero eillciency is reached at In present commercialpractice the height of the bailles averages 22.2% of the diameter of thecylinder.- In domestic practice baflies having a height that is 20% ofthe diameter of the cylinder are usually used. Such high baflles arenecessary to lift the clothesin a low-speed cylinder, as the clothesgather in front of the baffles.

Low baflles have'a desirable scrubbing action on the clothes, but cannotbe used with these low-. speed machines. We have determined that in ourmachine the highest efficiency is reached with bailles having a heightthat is 1.5% of the diameter of the cylinder. It isbelieved that in thisoptimum construction a balance is struck between the liftingaction ofhigh-baffles and the scrubbing action of low baffles,

In one cylinder twenty inches in diameter which we have usedvery'successfully, the baifles were onexlnch and a half high, with across-sectional angle of.45. The table below summarizes the comparativeefficiencies ofbaiiles of various I heights, at high of rotation,expressed as the quantity of dirt removed in a certain stand- 00ardwashing-operatlon.

. 7 Hcightin ,Dirtre- Proportbnofcylinderdlametm aches moved 3illustrated machine approximately from 2 to 'In the operation of themachine described 9 /2 pounds. When the cyclic control switch isstarted, warm wash water is injected into the tub 34 until it reaches-adepth whichis preferably approximately 25% of the drum cylinderdiameter, i. e. five inches for a twenty-inch drum. There should be aclearance between the drum and the tub sufficient for the back currentsof the water; this clearance should be at least 20% and preferably 25%of the water depth.

This load is about double that which can be handled in the usuallow-speed machine; for example, one of these prior machines with a 20-inch cylinder 12 inches deep would be restricted to a load of about 5pounds instead of anoptimum load of Q pounds and a maximum of about 12pounds in our machine.

Based on the best observations we have been able to make, ourexplanation of the theoretical background of the invention is asfollows. At low rotational speeds, the centrifugal force acting on theclothes is not sufllcient to hold them against the drum to anyconsiderable height, so they soon tangle up into a ball as showninFigure 22, and merely roll around with very little washing action.This is why prior low-speed machines must periodically be reversed tountangle the clothes.

When the speed is increased to the point where the centrifugal force atthe drum periphery is 50% or more of the gravitational force acting onthe, clothes, the clothes stop rolling into a ball and the tanglingis'less. When the centrifugal force at the drum periphery reaches 70% ofthe gravitational force, the clothes are carried nearly to the top ofthe drum and then fall back across the'drum, traversing a path which isroughly an ellipse. At this speed, which is expressed generally, inrevolutions per minute, by the formula 2500 drum radius in feet averyefiective optimum washing action takes place, and there is very littletangling.

At speeds exceeding this, up to that a little below that at which theclothes are held against the drumall the way around, tangling disappearsentirely and the washing action, while slightly slightly more) of thegravitational force, as the clothes are lifted with the water by therotating cylinder, as illustrated in Figure 25, parts of the clothes andpart of the water are beyond a crit ical circle K (Figure 25) where,except for water action, the clothes .would be held against thecylinderall the way around, the centrifugal action over-balancinggravity. As the drum turns, the water outside of this critical circle isthrown centrifugally out through the drum perforations and drains backdown to the bottom of the tub.

- Part of the water, and parts of the clothes, being inside the criticalcircle X, as the drum ap proaohes the zenith position, tend to fall backacross the drum, the clothes tending to drag with them also that part ofthe load which is beyond the critical circle. Due to their inertia, theyfall across-the drum as shown in Figures 23 and 25, to a point on theopposite lower side of the drum.

When the water drains away, the clothes tend force.

Experiments on wet clothes without preliminary washing show that thebest speed for distributing the clothes in the drum is that at which thecircle X is quite close to the drum, i. e. at which the centrifugalforce at the drum periphery is approximately 100% of the gravitationalforce, or even slightly more. This is, in revolutions per minute,approximately determined by the formula 3000 drum radius in feet Webelieve that one important feature of our invention is in the greatsimplification of the machine made possible by our discovery that at aspeed approximating, or slightly below, the one determined by thisformula, clothes will have a satisfactory washing action with a singledirection drive when there is water in the machine, and will alsodistribute properly when the water is drained out.

The above action, especially the washing action, depends to some extentalso on the load in the machine, on the water level, and on theclearance between the drum and the tub. The minimum load that willtumble in the novel described manner during washing is about 1 pounds ofdry clothes per cubic foot of drum volume, and the maximum that willdistribute effectively is about 4 pounds per cubic foot of cylinder(drum) volume, although effective washing takes place up to six poundsper cubic foot of drum volume. Thus in the illustrated machine, with a20-inch drum, to wash and distribute effectively, the load should bebetween 2 /2 to 9% pounds (dry weight).

The water level is also important. Below about 20% of the drum diameter,the water does not operate efiectively to cause thedescribed tumbling ofthe clothes. At about 25% of the drum diameter (i. e. 5 inches with a 20inch drum) an optimum condition is reached where there is a maximumtumbling. Above 30%, as the increasing water level causes more flotationand less tumbling'of the clothes, and as the onev action interferes withthe other the 'eifectiveness drops considerably.

Above about 40% to 50%, up to a point where the cylinder is nearly full,an efiective washing action is secured by the agitation of the clothesfloated in the water. This last is an effective type of washing,although less so than with the tumbling described as a 25% water level,but

it requires a great deal of water and soap. Where this is not a serious.drawback, an efficient washing machine can be used utilizing a waterlevel of from 45% to of the drum diameter, and most of the mechanicalfeatures of our invention are highly advantageous in such a machine.

The optimum water level, however, is around 25%, and at least between22% and 30% of the drum diameter, with the scrubbing action due to thedescribed tumbling, together with economy of water and soap.

It is also important, as above explained, especially with the optimumwater level and with the clothes tumbling as described, to have aclearance between the tub and the drum which is at least 20% andpreferably 25% of the water level (i. e. at least 1%; inches with a 20inch drum). Greater clearance does .not seem to afi'ect the eificiencymuch either way, but increases the amount of water used. The clearanceis not of very critical importance in floating the clothes with thewater above 45% of the drum diameter, as the return currents describedbelow are only as described when the clothes are tum- Y most of thewater is forced out radially into the tub as indicated by the arrows.The water level in thetub changes slightly from the static level A-A toan inclined level B-B. Inside the drum the water level drops to thecurve C. The water forced out into the tub in the area Y drains backdown clockwise into the bottom of the tub.

The clothes, with most of the rest of the water, fall away from the topof the drum in a curved path which is the resultant of the centrifugaland gravitational components, and-are thrown across the drum above itsaxis, back into the wash water at the bottom. A little water is carriedall the way around by the drum, as indicated by the arrows D.

Water flows back into the drum mainly as indicated by arrows E, in anarea just above the bottom of the drum on the side from which the drumis turning. This is because the water by the time it has reached thebottom of the drum has again picked up enough centrifugal force, addedto the head inside the drum indicated by the line C, to balance'the head(B--B) outside the drum. Water reaches the area E inainly along threepaths: (1) the back-flowing water from area Y, indicated by arrows F,(2) a small eddy G due to the fact that the area E is slightly below thelevel 13-3, and (3) a horizontal flow of water in the tub around thefront and back walls of the drum (arrows H). A little water is alsocarried around by the drum (arrows D).

The inflow of water at E lifts the materials being washed away from thedrum, as indicated at K. This inflow takes place'continuously, andinsures that no articles of: clothing will stick to the drum. I

The critical water level (i. e. about 25% of the drum diameter) is thatlevel at which the head of water outside the drum-is suflicientlygreater than the head within the drum plus the centrifugal force on thewater within the drum, to cause the above-described inrush of water atE.

With the described water level and drum clearance, and with a loadwithin the described limits, the speed of rotation should be between (inrevolutions per minute) 2500 drum radius in feet at which speed there isthe maximum washing action, and about drum radius in feet at which speedthere is a satisfactory washing action with a maximum distributingaction after draining out the water. We prefer to use a speedsubstantially at the upper limit of this range, as perfect distributionis more important than a few minutes greater washing time. While,therefore, the upper limit of this range may vary a few revolutions perminute above or below that derived from the formula, on account ofvariawashing speed has been at the top of the critical range, theclothes will rotate almost in contact with the drum. Withdrawing thewater at the end of the washing period may also decrease the load on themotor so that the speed steps up slightly, whereupon the ellipse expandsuntil it almost fills the drum. The garments however can still movefreely relatively to each other, and

if desired, be reduced by turning the multiple control switch ahead aspreviously explained. At

the end of this period, the drain valve opens, and the dirty wash waterruns out. This closes the float switch again, and (since the inlet valveis open) injects'clean water to flush out the clothes. Before theclothes can begin to distribute themselves as described below,-the drainvalve may if desired be closed again, to give a rinsing period duringwhich the clothes are tumbled-in clean water. Or if preferred the drunimay be operated at high speed for a short time, after the draining, andthen the tub refilled with clean rinse water and the clothes againtumbled. The drain valve finally opens to give a final short flushingperiod. If desired, there may bemore than one of these rinsing periods.

Thereafter, the drain valve remaining open, the inlet valve finallycloses, the drum still being driven at its lower speed. It will be notedthat the distribution period that follows the last opening of the drainvalve includes a tirfie (usually about one minute) when the clothes arefirst substantially in the washing and rinsing part of the cycle, andthen as rinse water is injected while the drain remains open, to givethe final flushing action, the-clothes gradually lose their load ofwater,,and begin to distribute themselves gradually uniformly about theperiphery of the drum. If the motor is not so powerful but that, as theload on the motor decreases as the water drains out, the motor speedsteps up a few revolutions per minute, this will bring the speed to astill more effective speed for distribution; however, this is notnecessary although it is usually desirable to use such a motor becauseof considerations of cost, since its use is not detrimental.

The second part of this period, after the closing of the inlet valve,and which is usually about another minute, sees the clothes lose enoughwater (partly by merely draining off and partly by the low-speedcentrifugal action of the driun) to become dry enough to giveapproximately uniform distribution about the cylinder, tumblinggradually ceasing and the. ellipse of moving clothes gradually expandinguntil it almost fills the drum. With very heavy loads there may remain alittle tumbling of a garment or two clear at the center, but not enougheven then to produce substantial unbalance of the drum when it isspeeded up.

Thus, by selecting a speed which will cause tumbling when there is waterin the tub, and

which is also within the range which will cause distribution whenthewater is drained out, it

becomes possible to drive the drum constantly at a single speed and inone direction only, until ready for the high speed extraction step. The

the water, rather than by complicated speed varying controls such ashave always heretofore been considered necessary.

Finally, as already explained, the transmission is shifted into highspeed for a period of time long enough to extract most of the water,leaving the clothes substantially ready for ironing, and then the cycleautomatically comes to a close. Almost immediately upon the increase inspeed, the clothes which are undergoing distribution in a shape which isroughly elliptical, expand out against the drum and cease all tumbling.

The details of theabove-described cycle of operations will be apparentby comparing Figures 18 and-19. Figure 14 shows the wiring of the twomotors 56 and 2, the multiple switches I, 2, 3, and l, the solenoidsI60, 98, and 68, the heater 19, the double-acting float switch 72, andthe manual switch 83 in series with the heater 1!), and theirconnections to the usual H0 volt line wires. Figure 15 shows a cycle ofthe machine (45 minutes long) with concentric zones indicating theswitches I, 2, 3, and 4 and the float switch '12. It will be noted thatthis switch in one position (tub filled to" the desired level withwater) closes the circuit through the heater 19 if the switch 83 isclosed, so-that the heater cannot be turned on unless the tub containswater. In its other extreme position the switch is in the circuit forthe clutch solenoid I60, so that the transmission cannot be shifted intohigh speed unless the tub is emptied of water.

In this cycle the multiple switch, after a segment in which all switchesareofi, and beyond which the multiple switch is turned manually to startthe machine, causes the machine to operate in the following sequence:(1) adjustable washing period, with the float switch closing as soon asthe tub is filled to the desired level, (2) drain valve opens and, assoon as the water level drops enough to open the inlet "valve, rinsewater is sprayed in to give a flushing period, (3) a distribution periodwhich in practice is merged in the latter part of the flushing periodasthe water drains away, (4) a short high-speed extraction period, (5)rinsing by tumbling the clothes in clean water, (6) drain and flush, (7)distribute, and (8) extract at 'high speed, a total of about 45 minutes.

By leading hot and cold water conduits 264 into the machine as describedin connection with Figure 16, and providing hot and cold water valvescontrolled bythe solenoids 68a and 68b, the heater I9 may be eliminated,and the wiring of the diagram of Figure 20 and the cycle illustrated inever that valve is open, while the cold water valve has its solenoid 68bin series with the thermostat switch 19a and connected to the linethrough switches 5a and 83 in parallel.

Thus if switch 83 is closed, the cold water goes on whenever the switch4a operates the solenoid 68a, provided the water is hot enough tooperate the switch 19a, so that mixed water is used all through the icycle. If, 'however, switch 83 is open, inspection of Figure l'l-willshow that during the washing period the cold water is turned offregardless of the thermostat 19a, and high temperature water is used;however, during the second (or both) of the two rinse periods valve 5aisclosed and mixed water is used.

In the cycle of Figure 21, there is first, (after advancing the multipleswitch to start the machine) a soaking period during which the machineis filled with mixed warm water and then drained, leaving the clothesthoroughly soaked, whereupon the machine stops. The operator then comesback as soon as convenient, and again starts the machine by advancingthe multiple switch, at thesame time adding soap powder until he seesthat suds of the desired soapiness have formed.

There then follow the steps (after washing is completed) of (1) drainand flush, (2) distribute, (3) extract, (4) fill and rinse, (5) drainand flush, (6) distribute, (7) extract; (8) fill and rinse- (9) drainand flush, (10) distribute, and (11) extract. The total running time isabout one hour. The steps indicated as (7), (8) (9) and (10) may ifdesired be omitted.

While one particular machine and its operation have been described indetail, it is not our intention to limit the scope of the invention bythat description, orotherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.The above-described brackets for supporting the tub are claimedinapplication No. 135,955, filed April 9, 1937, by Alfred H. Haberstump,and application No. 135,954, filed April 9, 1937, by Andrew 0. McCollumand Lovett-.

We claim:

1. That method of cleaning fabric materials such as clothes, by themanipulation of a rotatable generally cylindrical and generallyhorizontal drum, which comprises rotating the loaded drum continuouslyin one direction with its lower portion dipping into a cleaning liquidand at such a speed that the wet materials are held centrifugallyagainst the rotating drum until near the uppermost position thereof andthen drop by gravity into the cleaning liquid, said speed being in therange (in revolutions per minute) between 2500 w drum radius in feet asa minimum and about 3000 drum radius infeet centrifugally after they areso distributed by driving the drum in said direction at a much higherspeed. 7

2. That method of cleaning fabric materials such as clothes, by themanipulation of a rotatable generally cylindrical and generallyhorizontal drum, which comprises rotating the loaded drum continuouslyin one direction and dipping into cleaning liquid maintained at a levelbe-. tween 20% and 30% of the drum diameter and with a clearance aroundthe drum adequate to permit back flowing currents and not less than 20of the liquid level and at a speed in the range (in revolutions perminute) between 2500 drum radius in feet as a minimum and about drumradius in feet as a maximum, whereby the materials are carried by thedrum on each revolution to a point near the top of the drum and thenfall clear of and across the drum into the cleaning liquid at the bottomofthe drum.

3. That method of cleaning fabric materials such as clothes, by themanipulation of a rotatable generally cylindrical and generallyhorizontal drum, which comprises rotating the loaded drum continuouslyin one direction and with its lower portion dipping into cleaning liquidand with a clearance around the drum adequate to permit back-flowingcurrents and at a speed in the range (in revolutions per minute) between2500 drum radius infect as a minimum and about drum radius in feet as amaximum, whereby the materials are car ried by the drum on eachrevolution to a point near the top of the drum and then fall clear ofand across the drum into the cleaning liquid at the bottom of the drum.

4. That method of cleaning fabric materials such as clothes, by themanipulation of a rotatable generally cylindrical and generallyhorizon-. tal drum, which comprises rotating the loaded drumcontinuously in one direction and dipping into cleaning liquidmaintained at a level between 20% and 30% of the drum diameter and witha clearance around the drum adequate to permit back-flowing currents andnot less than 20% of the liquid level and at a speed approximating (inrevolutions per minute) 2500 drum radius in feet 5. That method ofcleaning fabric materials drum, which comprises rotating the loaded drumcontinuously in one direction and dipping into cleaning liquidmaintained at a level between 20% and 30% of the drum diameter, and witha clearance around the drum adequate to permit back-flowing currents andnot less than 20% of the liquid level, and at a speed in the range (inrevolutions per minute) between 2500 'drum radius in feet as a minimumand about 3000 drum radius in feet Fun . by the drum on as a maximum,whereby the materials are carried by the drum on each revolution to apoint near the top of the drum and then fall clear of and across thedrum into the cleaning liquid at the bottom of the drum, and thereafterdraining the liquid away while continuing to rotate the drum at the samespeed and in the same direction for a considerable period 01 time tocause said materials to distribute themselves gradually about theperiphery of the drum and partially to extract the cleaning liquidtherefrom, ready for high-speed final extraction.

6. That method of cleaning such as clothes, by the manipulation of arotatable generally cylindrical and generally horizontal drum, whichcomprises rotating the loaded drum continuously in one direction andwith its lower portion dipping into cleaning liquid and with a clearancearound the drum adequate to permit back-flowlngcurrents and at a speedin the range (in revolutions per minute) between drum radius in feet asa minimum and about as a maximum, whereby the materials are carried eachrevolution to a point near the top of the drum and then fall clear ofand across the drum into thecleaning liquid at the bottom of the drum,and thereafter draining the liquid away while continuing to rotate thedrum at the same speed and in the same direction for a considerableperiod of time to cause said materials to distribute themselvesgradually about the more cleaning periphery of the drum and partially toextract the cleaning liquid therefrom, final extraction.

'7. That method of cleaning fabric materials such as clothes, by themanipulation of a rotatable generally cylindrical and generallyhorizontal drum, which comprises rotating the loaded drum continuouslyin one direction and dipping into cleaning liquid maintained at a levelbetween and of the drum diameter, and with a clear ance around the drumadequate to permit backflowing currents and not less than 20% of theliquid level, and at a speed in the range (in revolutions per minute)between 2500 drum radius in feet as a minimum and about 3000 ,7 drumradius in feet as a markimum, whereby the materials arecarried by thedrum on each revolution to a point near the top of the drum and ing theliquid away while continuing to rotate the drum at the same speed and inthe same direction for a considerable period 01 time to cause saidmaterials to distribute themselves gradually about the periphery of thedrum and partially to extract the cleaning liquid therefrom, ready forhigh-speed final extraction, and injecting liquid to pass through theclothes and bedra'inedaway during the first part of the distributingstep to flush dirty cleaning liquid from the clothes and to cause thedistribution to start gradually.

fabric materials ready for high speed as a maximum,

'uld and while speed approximating (in revolutions per then fall clearof the cleaning liquid at a. That method of cleaning fabric materialssuch as clothes, by the manipulation of a rotatable generallycylindrical and generally horizontal drum, which comprises rotating theloaded drum continuously in one direction and with its lower portiondipping into cleaning liquid and with a clearance around the drumadequate to permit back-flowing currents and at a speed in the range (inrevolutions per minute) between 2500 drum radius in feel:

as a minimum and about .a 22 drum radius in feet as a maximum, wherebythe materials are carried by the druin on each revolution to a pointnear the top of the drum and then fall clear of and across the drum intothe cleaning liquid at the rotating said drum continuously in onedirection for a considerable period of time ata speed in the range (inrevolutions per minute) between 2500 drum radius in feet as a minimumand about 3000 drum radius in feet until said materials are distri uteduniformly about the periphery of the drum, and then extracting theliquid from said materials by'rotating the drum at a much hi her 10.That method of drying fabrics such as clothes after washing them in arotatable generally cylindrical and generally'horizontal drum, whichcomprises draining away the washing liqthe washing away rotating saiddrum continuously in one direction for a considerable period of time ata minute) 3000 h drum radius in l'eet until said about the peripherytracting the liquid from said or the drum, and then exproximately 2500 Vdrum radius in feet,

whereby the textiles are kept moving freely relatively to one anotherwhile the receptacle is rotating.

materials are distributed uniformly liquid is drainin materials byrotating the drum at a much higher spee v 1 1. A method of washingtextiles in a tumbling receptacle that comprises placing in therecepta-' cle not more than six pounds dry weight of texreceptacle onaaxis at'a speed of ap-"

